Rear sight for guns



Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. M. W. KAEMPFER.

REAR SIGHT FOR GUNS.

AFPLICAIION FILED NOV.1B, i919.

zizi. 1.11'

l II E. M. w. KAEMPFER.

REAR SIGHT FOR GUNS.

APPLlcAlloN FILED Nov.1a. 1919.

1,357,096, Patented ocu 26,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Loaf.

E. M. W. KAEMPFEH.

REAR SIGHT FOR GUNS.

APPLlcAnoN FILED Nov.18, 1919.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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E. M. W. KAEMPFER.

REAR smHT FOR GUNS.

APPLICAIION FILED NOV. I8, 1919.

1,357,096. Patented oet. 26,1920.

4 SHEETS-#SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REAR SIGHT FOR GUNS'.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

Application filed November 1S, 1919. Serial No. 338,868.

To all Lo/wm it may concern Be it known that I, EFFIE MAY IVAGNER KAnMrrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Laredo, in the county of l/Vebb and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rear Sights for Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to improvements in rear sights for guns, and it is in* tended to provide a combination sight which may be used for pointing the piece either at long or short ranges, and either by day or by night. Thile I have shown the arrangement as applied to an ordinary standard service rifle, it is not intended to limit the invention to a small arm at all, but the same is applicable to ordnance, field artillery, machine guns, or the like, in which it maybe desired to point the piece in the proper direction for firing the ysame either at long or short ranges.

present invention is intended more especially for use in combination with a front sight, adapted for use either by day or night, of the general character described in my application filed Get. 28, 1919, Serial No. 333,895 and entitled Improvements in front sights for firearms.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a service rifle provided with the improved front and rear sights referred to.

2 is a rear view on a much larger scale of the rear sight leaf and the parts carried thereby, and shows the sight as adjusted for use in night firing.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but shows the device as arranged for day firing.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3, as seen from the left of said figures.

Fig. 5 shows a section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and looking down, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a similar section to Fig. 5, except that the drum is shown in section and in the Zero position, andthe casing carried by the leaf is in the lowered or zero position,

and the spring cover is shown as covering the opening in the Slide.

Fig. 7 shows a section along the line 7 7 of Fig. 5, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a detail showing the scale drum as detached from the other parts.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation showing the two parts of the operating shaft for raising and lowering the casing on the sight leaf and for rotating the drum.

Fig. 10 shows a section along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a perspective View showing the slide which coacts with the scale drum to disclose in proper relation the numerals on the range scale, and the figure also shows the spring cover slidably mounted on said slide.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the slide carrying the illuminating dots with the peep hole between same, the view being seen from the side opposite the illuminating dots; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the slide shown in Fig. 12, as seen from the opposite direction.

Fig. 1 shows an ordinary service rifle having the barrel A, with the front sight B of standard design, to which I have applied the folding luminous attachment for use at night, as described in my patent application aforesaid.

C is the receiver of the piece, on which the ordinary base plate or pedestal D for the rear sight leaf E is provided, which sight leaf comprises two parallel bars e connected together at the top, as at e', and provided with feet co hinged, as at e2, to the base l), as shown in Fig. l. On the other face of the leaf I provide a series of rack teeth e3, as shown in Fig. 4.

The connection of the rear sight leaf to the piece is well known in the art, and I do not claim the same as part of my invention, and it will not be further described; but the parts constituting my invention are illustrated inv detail in Figs. 2 to 13 which will now be described.

F represent a casing which is adapted to slide vertically on the sight leaf. This casing is preferably composed of two members F and F2 connected together in any suitable way, as by the screw bolts G. The casing is preferably made in two parts as suggested, for convenience of assembling the elements mounted therein.

This casing is provided with a chamber FO to inclose the range drum I-I, and the chamber is reduced to fit snugly over the toothed portion I of the operating shaft I, one end of which is journaled as at 2' in the casing F, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and the other end is hollowed, as at IO, to receive the spring J and the operating shaft K carrying the hand knob K with the roughened outer face 72. This opening IO is also provided with slots z" to receive the spline ribs 7a of the shaft K, and the hollow portion of the shaft I is provided with exterior slots 2 to engage the inwardly projecting ribs ft2 from the range drum H, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7.

The spring J normally tends to press the shaft K outward, causing the roughened face .70 to engage the roughened face f3 of the lug F3 carried by the casing. This casing is provided with guide grooves f for the bars e of the sight leaf, and it is also provided with a guideway F4, with guide slots f4 to engage the guide ribs m of the slide M, provided wth the opening m" through which a limited portion only of the range scale may be seen.

The range drum has a spiral rib 7L which engages with the worm grooves m in the slide M, and this range drum is also provided with a spiral scale, as shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 8. The numerals on this drum are preferably stamped in the same, and the recess is filled with luminous material so that the numerals will be visible at night.

In order to have the number correctly lined up, when the sight is used at night, I provide a pocket m2, see Figs. 3 and 1l, in the slide M which may be filled with ay luminous composition, such as radium paint. In order to close the drum chamber of the casing when not in use, I provide a sliding cover N preferably made of a resilient leaf spring having the lug fn. by means of which the spring may be slid backward or forward in the corresponding grooves beneath the flanges m3. The ends n of this leaf spring cover are adapted to spring down into the curved portions m4 of the grooves referred to and abut against one or the other of the shoulders m5, see Fig. 11, so that the spring cover may be prevented from accidentally sliding to the position for masking the opening m". Thus this spring cover N may be slid to either end of the slide M when it is desired to unmask the opening MO, as shown in Fig. 5, or it may be moved to the position for masking said opening, as shown in Fig. 6.

The casing carries a lug P projecting down between the bars e of the leaf E, which constitutes the ordinary rear sight for use in daytime. This lug is provided with a peep opening p0, and with the usual notch j?, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. This lug may also be provided with the pin 2 2 to support the free end of the sliding bar Q, which constitutes the rear sight attachment for use at night.'

This sliding har Q is shown in the position for use in night firing in Fig. 2, and in the concealed position for firing by day in Fig. 3.

This sliding bar carries two luminous dots g, one at each side of the peep opening go, which peep opening is also preferably provided with the notch g adapted to register with the notch 7) when the sliding bar Q is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

This sliding bar Q is also provided with a thumb notch g2 so that the bar may be conveniently drawn from the position shown in Fig. 3 and moved to that shown in Fig. Q.

In order to conveniently assemble the sliding bar Q in the casing, I provide a rib g3 which slides in a keyway in the casing, as shown in Figs. fl and 7, and the rear end of the bar Q may be provided with a notch g to engage the stop pin or bolt R, see Figs. 3 and 4, which prevents said bar from being moved too far to the left, or accidentally dropped out of the casing F.

The rib Q3 is cut away, as at g, sce Fig. l2, to ride over and rest upon the pin 2) when. the sliding bar Q is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, and this pin 7) engages the shoulder Q, see Fig. 12, when the notch g is in the position to register with the notch 7) of the day sight. The bar Q may be clamped in the desired position as shown either in Figs. 2 or 3 by means of'a suitable set screw S. Vhen used for firing by day, the notch p of the day sight is brought into alinement with the tip of the ordinary front sight; but when used for night firing the luminous attachment of the front sight is turned up, and the bar Q being shown moved to the position indicated in Fig. 2, the marksman will note three lumi nous dots; and when the dot b of the front sight is midway between the two luminous dots g of the rear sight, he will have the true line of sight, and if this line bears on the target the piece will be properly pointed.

In order to disassemble the parts it will simply be necessary to remove the screw bolts G and R, and the casing may be removed, and the parts contained therein, may be readily withdrawn. In order to assemble the parts, reverse the operation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Before the leaf is turned down in the normal position for transporting the piece, the casing F will be moved down to the lower or Zero position, at which time the scale on the drum registering with the opening m0 will show zero, and the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 6. Now if it is desired to use the piece for firing at any given range, say for day firing, push in the hand knob K', releasing the teeth c, and then turn the operating shaft I which will cause the teeth l on said shaft to coact With the teeth c3 on the sight leaf E, simultaneously raising the casing F, relative to the said leaf and rotating the range drum H. As the range drum is rotated, the Worm rib /L Will engage the Worm grooves m on the slide M and will move the slide, exposing the corresponding range on the drum scale. Of course, the spring cover N will have been previously moved to unmask the opening m.

Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the sight is supposed to be set for say 1500 yards, Which range is indicated on the drum scale. l/Vhen the rear sight is set at the desired elevation, simply releasing the knob K will cause the spring J to throw this knob into engagement with the lug F3, and the rear sight Will be locked at the desired elevation. It Will be seen that the elevation may be increased or decreased corresponding to the increases or decreases in the range.

For night firing the operation is the same as fer day tiring, except that the sliding bar Q is moved from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, exposing the luminous dots to the rear, and the luminous arm Z) of the front sight is thrown into the operative uosition as described in my application hereinbefore referred to.

Then used for night firing the front luminous dot b is brought into the position midway between the luminous dots g carried by the bar Q as hereinbefore described.

It will be seen that the operative parts of the sight are inclosed in a casing or housing which is not likely to become injured from the ordinary rough usage to which such Weapons are subjected, and from Which dust, dirt, Water, rain and snow are excluded if reasonable care be taken With the apparatus.

lVhile l have described one embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that the same may be applied to various types of Weapons, and that various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts might be made which could be used Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided with rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug with a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing With said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided with a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held against rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guideways in said casing and having worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having an opening therethrough registering with said range scale as said drum is rotated, and means for rotating said operating shaft, substantially as described.

2. A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided with rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said'leaf and carrying a lug With a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing with said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided with a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held aQainst rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guideways in said casing and having Worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having an opening therethrough registering with said range scale as said drum is rotated, a resilient cover slidably mounted in said slide and adapted to close said opening when desired, and means for rotating said operating' shaft, substantially as described.

3. A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided With rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug with a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying al pinion having teeth meshing With said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided With a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held against rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guideways in said casing and having Worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having .an opening therethrough registering with said range scale as said drum is rotated, a slide har mounted in guideways in said casing and provided with a peep hole adapted to register with first mentioned peep hole when said slide bar is moved to the desired position, said slide bar being provided With pockets containing luminous composition on either side of its peep hole, and means for rotating said operating shaft, substantially as described.

4. A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided With rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug With'a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing With said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided with a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held against rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guideways in said casing and having Worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having an opening therethrough registering with said range scale as said drum is rotated, a resilient cover slidably mounted in said slide and adapted to close said opening when desired, a slide bar mounted in guideWays in said casing and provided with a peep hole adapted to register with the first mentioned peep hole when said slide bar is moved to the desired position, said slide bar being provided with pockets containing luminous composition on either side of its peep hole, and means for rot-ating said operating shaft, substantially as described.

A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided With rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug with a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing With said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided with a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held against rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guideways in said casing and having Worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having an opening therethrough registering with said range scale as said drum is rotated, and means for rotating said operating shaft, said means comprising a shaft splined to and telescopically connected to said operating shaft and carrying a knob roughened on its end face to engage a projection on said casing, and a spring normally pressing said knob into engagement with said projection but permitting the disengagement of said knob from said projection when it is desired to rotate said knob, substantiallyT as described.

6. A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided With rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug with a peep hole therein, an ope `ating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing with said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided with a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held against rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guide- Ways in said casing and having` Worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having an opening therethrough registering With said range scale as said drum is rotated, a resilient cover slidably mounted in said slide and adapted to close said opening when desired, and means for rotating said operating shaft, said means comprising a shaft splined to and telescopically connected to said operating shaft and carrying a knob roughened on its end face to engage a projection on said casing, and a spring normally pressing said knob into engagement with said projection but permitting the disengagement of said knob from said projection when it is desired to rotate said knob, substantially as described.

7. A rear sight for*y guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided with rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug with a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing with said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided with a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held against rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guideways in said casing and having Worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having an opening therethrough registering with said range scale as said drum is rotated, a. slide bar mounted in guideways in said casing and provided with a peep hole adapted to register with the first mentioned peep hole when said slide bar is moved to the desired position, said slide bar being provided with pockets containing luminous composition on either side of its peep hole, and means for rotating said operating shaft, said means comprising a shaft splined to and telescopically connected to said operating shaft, and carrying a knob roughened on its end face to engage a projection on said casing, and a spring normally pressing said knob into engagement with said projection but permitting the disengagement of said knob from said projection when it is desired to rotate said knob, substantially as described.

S. A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided with rack teeth thereon, a casing slidahly mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug with a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing with said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a range drum provided with a spiral range scale mounted on said operating shaft, and held against rotation thereon, a spiral rib on said range drum, a slide mounted in guideways in said casing and having worm teeth engaging said spiral rib, said slide having an opening therethrough registering with said range scale as said drum is rotated, a resilient cover slidably mounted in said slide and adapted to close said opening when desired, a slide bar mounted in guideways in said casing and provided with a peep hole adapted to register with the first mentioned peep hole When said slide bar is moved to the desired position, said slide bar being provided with pockets containing luminous composition on either side of its peep hole, and

means for rotating said operating shaft, said means comprising a shaft splined to and telescopically connected to said operating shaft and carrying a knob roughened on its end face to engage a projection on said casing, and a spring normally pressing said knob into engagement with said projection but permitting the disengagement of said knob from said projection when it is desired to rotate said knob, substantially as described.

9. A rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided with rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug With a peep hole therein, an operating shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing with said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, a slide bar mounted in guideways in said casing and provided with a peep hole adapted to register with the first mentioned peep hole when said slide bar is moved to the desired position, said slide bar being provided With pockets containing luminous composition on either side of its peep hole, and means for rotating said operating shaft, substantially as described.

10. A. rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug With a peep hole therein, and a slide bar mounted in guideWays in said casing and provided with a peep hole adapted to register with the first mentioned peep hole When said slide bar is moved to the desired position, said slide bar being provided with pockets containing luminous composition on either side of its peep hole, substantially as described.

1l. A. rear sight for guns comprising a leaf adapted to be hinged to the gun and provided With rack teeth thereon, a casing slidably mounted on said leaf and carrying a lug with a peep hole therein, an operat ing shaft, carrying a pinion having teeth meshing with said rack teeth, journaled in said casing, and means for rotating said operating shaft comprising a shaft splined to and telescopically connected to said operating shaft and carrying a knob roughened on its end face to engage a projection on said casing, and a spring normally pressing said knob into engagement With said projection but permitting the disengagement of said knob from said projection When it is desired t0 rotate said knob, substantially as described.

12. In a rear sight for guns, the combination with a leaf connected to the gun, a casing slidably connected to said leaf and provided with a rear sight piece adapted for use by day, and a night sight attachment comprising a sliding bar mounted in guideways in said casing, and provided With pockets carrying luminous material, said bar being movable into position to cause said pockets to register With the day sight piece when desired, substantially as described.

13. In a rear sight for guns, the combination with a leaf connected to the gun, a casing slidably connected to said leaf and provided with a rear sight piece adapted for use by day, and a night sight attachment comprising a sliding bar mounted in guide- Ways in said casing, and provided with a peep hole, With pockets carrying luminous material on each side of said peep hole, said bar being movable into position to cause said pockets to register with the day sight piece when desired, substantially as described.

EFFIE MAY WAGNER KAEMPFER. 

